Fetal movements: normal variants and cause for concern. Fetal movements: normal options and cause for concern Frequent fetal movements at 28 weeks of pregnancy

The larger the mother’s belly becomes, and the closer the birth gets, the more often it is quite difficult for a woman to calculate: how many months is 28 weeks of pregnancy? Considering obstetric months, in which a month has 28 days, you can calculate: the 28th week of pregnancy falls on the 7th month of pregnancy. This is the first month of the third trimester, a month that brings a woman even closer to the long-awaited meeting with the baby growing in her tummy.

Ultrasound

Usually an ultrasound is not required at 28 weeks of pregnancy - unless for some special indications. The second planned ultrasound examination is already over, and the time for the third planned ultrasound examination has not yet arrived - it awaits the woman at 32 weeks of pregnancy. Although theoretically, an ultrasound at 28 weeks of pregnancy is still capable of showing the baby, the location and degree of maturity of the placenta, and the umbilical cord. It’s just that the readings displayed on the monitor are very difficult for mommy to make out: it’s impossible to see the baby completely. And how things are going with the development of the child, whether everything in this case corresponds to the norm, can only be determined by a doctor.

Tests at 28 weeks of pregnancy

But tests may be needed at the 28th week of pregnancy - both “traditional” (urinalysis, clinical blood test), and a blood test for sugar, as well as an antibody test. The latter becomes a necessity if the expectant mother has a negative Rh factor: such an analysis will help determine whether a Rh conflict is developing and whether certain complications of pregnancy and childbirth will be associated with this. If necessary, the woman will be given a special drug that will prevent the synthesis of antibodies to the fetal blood in the mother's body.

Starting from the 28th week of pregnancy and until childbirth, a woman will have to see a gynecologist more often: 2 times a month, with each visit taking urine samples for analysis, and, if indicated, blood tests. Now it is extremely important to monitor the level of iron in the body during pregnancy in order to avoid the development of anemia, as well as constant measurements of blood sugar levels, the increase of which indicates the likelihood of developing gestational diabetes.

Stomach

The seventh month is already quite a “solid period”, therefore it is not surprising that at the 28th week of pregnancy the belly is already greatly enlarged, and the mother’s figure is acquiring more and more rounded “shapes”. Due to the constant growth of the abdomen and the tension of the skin on it, the abdomen begins to itch and itch, and if it is overstretched, it becomes covered with purple stripes and stretch marks. Eliminating stretch marks that have already appeared is not an easy task; it is much easier to avoid their appearance. For this purpose, today there are many different cosmetic products in the form of creams and gels for stretch marks for pregnant women. Vegetable oils - olive, almond, citrus - are also excellent as a preventive measure for the appearance of stretch marks.

Uterus

The uterus also increases significantly by this time - the uterus is located 8 cm above the navel and 28 cm above the symphysis pubis. And this is far from the end: the uterus will continue to grow as the baby grows in it - until birth. But now, without “waiting” for the appointed due date, the uterus can periodically contract slightly and with little pain. If from time to time the mother feels the uterus tense easily at the 28th week of pregnancy, there is no need to be alarmed: if contractions of the uterus do not cause severe pain, are not prolonged and irregular, and are not accompanied by discharge, then so-called false or training contractions are taking place. Through such contractions, the uterus at 28 weeks of pregnancy “learns” to contract and prepares for the upcoming birth.

Childbirth at 28 weeks of pregnancy

Starting from the 28th week of pregnancy, if suddenly for some reason the baby decides to leave the mother’s womb early, the fetus is considered viable, and its actual birth is considered premature birth. Childbirth at 28 weeks of pregnancy can result in a very successful outcome for a baby: the likelihood of his survival is very, very high. True, the baby had a chance to survive even if he had been born at an even earlier stage, but only at the 28th week of pregnancy these chances increase even more. Of course, this will require special equipment, equipment, and careful care of the baby.

But for a mother, premature birth at 28 weeks of pregnancy, which is taken as an urgent one, can be overshadowed by very common complications. These include early and premature release of water, cervical ruptures, weak labor, unprepared birth canal, bleeding during the labor and postpartum period.

Fetus

Normally, the fetus at the 28th week of pregnancy continues to improve, every day preparing to meet a new world. The baby's weight already reaches a kilogram, and sometimes more, his height is about 38-38.5 cm. Bone tissue is actively strengthened, pulmonary alveoli are formed, which will give the baby the ability to breathe on his own. The baby’s brain is also developing - grooves and convolutions are gradually formed on it, the formation of which began a little earlier.

The baby gains weight due to the formation of subcutaneous tissue, which also contributes to the gradual smoothing of the baby’s skin. As the fetus grows at the 28th week of pregnancy, it increasingly fills the uterine cavity, leaving less and less room for the baby to move. But his activity is still high: the baby has developed his own sleeping and waking patterns, and during hours of activity he noticeably makes himself known to his mother.

Feelings at 28 weeks of pregnancy

This is expressed in the fact that the woman feels the baby’s movements within herself more and more. It is precisely these sensations at the 28th week of pregnancy - sensations of regular movements and periodic activity of the fetus - that are very important for monitoring the normal condition of the baby.

Doctors recommend carefully monitoring your baby's activity, recording his movements in the morning and evening. True, they warn: in the evening, the baby’s movements can be much more noticeable - during the day he often remains calm, pacified by motion sickness from the movements and movements of his mother. But as soon as a woman sits down or lies down in bed in the evening, preparing for a night's rest, how - rrraz! The baby begins to actively move, tumble and kick in the tummy, preventing the mother from falling asleep.

The baby's movements may also increase in response to the mother's food intake - along with an increase in glucose levels in the pregnant woman's body. The baby also reacts with active movements to an increase in adrenaline in the mother’s blood - due to stress or emotional arousal. In general, the baby makes about 10 movements over 10 minutes. However, this does not mean that all the babies in their mother’s tummy should move with exactly the same activity: each baby is unique, some are more “temperamental”, some less so. So, there is no reason to worry, even if the baby moves up to 10 times within an hour. But if movements are felt even less frequently, you should be concerned. If the baby’s movements are not felt throughout the day, you should consult a doctor immediately.

Pain

The seventh month is a very “tangible” month of pregnancy for a woman. So, due to the increasing changes that the body undergoes as the baby grows and the uterus enlarges, a woman may well experience some pain at 28 weeks of pregnancy. We are talking, first of all, about painful sensations in the lumbar region, back - as a result of softening of the supporting ligaments and joints, a shift in the center of gravity due to the growth of the abdomen.

Pain at the 28th week of pregnancy in the lower back, similar to pain with radiculitis, which spreads along the thigh and even “reaches” the knee and ankle, is explained by the pressure of the growing uterus on the sciatic nerve. Usually such pains arise “spontaneously”, are not particularly strong and quite tolerable, and are increasingly aching in nature. But if you experience sharp and severe, cramping pain in the lower back, you should immediately call a doctor - such symptoms may indicate a high probability of premature birth.

You should also listen to pain that occurs in the abdominal area. So, from time to time there may be a sharp and quickly subsiding pain in the hypochondrium - this is the baby digging. If the pain in the hypochondrium is dull, occurs several hours after eating and is accompanied by a feeling of pulling in the abdomen, nausea, and bitter belching, you should definitely be examined by a doctor for possible gallstone cholecystitis.

A special issue is the development of edema, which becomes a frequent accompaniment of pregnancy. Many expectant mothers begin to “swell” to one degree or another, sometimes noticing that their favorite shoes have become too small, and their faces become puffy. However, if the swelling is significant, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible: severe swelling becomes the first sign of dropsy and the further development of a dangerous complication of pregnancy - late gestosis. When edema appears, you need to be especially careful about weight control, reduce fluid intake to avoid its accumulation in the body, and also adjust your diet. So, the amount of liquid consumed per day should be reduced to 1.5 liters (including soups, milk, fruits). To avoid thirst, you must completely avoid foods that provoke it - smoked meats, fried and spicy foods, concentrated broths, and significantly limit the use of salt. It also becomes necessary to control bladder emptying: according to the norm, the amount of urine released during the day should exceed the amount of fluid consumed during the same time.

Weight

As for weight, it is believed that, starting from the seventh month, mommy should gain about 50 g per day and about 300 g (at most, 500 g) weekly. Normally, weight at 28 weeks of pregnancy can increase from 8 to 10.5 kg. And further weight gain must be monitored very carefully, weighing yourself every morning and strictly adhering to the indicated diet.

Nutrition

Nutrition at the 28th week of pregnancy must be structured in such a way as to provide the small organism growing in the womb with all the necessary nutrients and beneficial substances. Doctors, speaking about nutrition while carrying a baby, unanimously agree on one thing: a special diet tailored to the needs of the pregnant woman and the baby inside her can ease the course of pregnancy and ensure normal childbirth.

An important aspect is diet: given that weight gain accelerates from the 28th week of pregnancy, you should consume food 5-6 times a day in small portions, choosing healthy and high-quality foods. In general, the total number of calories ingested per day for a pregnant woman at week 28 should be about 3 thousand units. Moreover, nutrition at the 28th week of pregnancy should be varied, the main amount of calories consumed should be in the first half of the day. After 19 hours, it is advisable not to eat at all, except for fermented milk products in the form of kefir or milk, apples or light vegetable salads.

In the third trimester of pregnancy, significant salt restriction becomes mandatory. As mentioned above, salt leads to fluid retention in the mother’s body, which, in turn, contributes to the development of edema.

Since rapid weight gain also includes eating simple carbohydrates, it is necessary to reduce the consumption of foods containing them. These include confectionery, candies, potatoes, white rice, chocolate, and products made from refined white flour.

In addition to the fact that quickly digestible carbohydrates lead to rapid weight gain, they also cause an increase in glucose levels in the blood of a pregnant woman. A serious consequence of this may be the development of gestational diabetes in the mother, which can complicate not only the course of pregnancy, but also the process of childbirth.

Instead of foods containing “fast” carbohydrates, it is better to enrich your diet at 28 weeks of pregnancy with foods that contain complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates take a long time to digest, bring a long-lasting feeling of satiety, do not cause a spike in glucose and normalize digestion. Foods such as whole grains, a variety of cereals, brown rice, corn, and wholemeal bread contain complex carbohydrates. Vegetables and fruits, in turn, are rich in fiber - it also promotes better satiety, improves intestinal motility, and has a beneficial effect on digestion.

Discharge at 28 weeks of pregnancy

Discharge at the 28th week of pregnancy retains its previous character: normally, the discharge should be light or milky in color, uniform in consistency and with a slightly sour odor. If suddenly the discharge at the 28th week of pregnancy changes color towards gray, green or yellow, is distinguished by the appearance of cheesy formations, clots of mucus or pus, accompanied by itching and a burning sensation in the genital area, you need to consult a doctor for the presence of infection and decide on its scheme treatment.

If there is bleeding, you should immediately call an ambulance. Thus, spotting at the 28th week of pregnancy most often indicates previa or abruption of a normally located placenta. In this case, bloody discharge can have a different character: be insignificant or abundant, spotting, brown or with a scarlet tint. In addition, spotting at 28 weeks of pregnancy may indicate an increased risk of preterm birth. Almost every situation in which spotting occurs is also accompanied by nagging pain in the abdomen. In any case, medical intervention should follow on an emergency basis: if bloody discharge appears, you need to call an ambulance as soon as possible.

Also, a pregnant woman should be suspicious of the appearance of watery discharge, which indicates leakage of amniotic fluid. Water can flow either noticeably or leak slightly. Be that as it may, in such a situation we will be talking about a violation of the integrity of the fetal bladder, and therefore the amniotic fluid flows out.

Sex

If future parents are concerned about the safety of physical intimacy while carrying a baby, then the answer will most likely please them. After all, according to experts, sex at 28 weeks of pregnancy is not only not prohibited, but is even indicated, being one of the ways to get positive emotions, joy and pleasure, and relaxation. Sex at 28 weeks of pregnancy will not harm your baby in any way; the main thing is to choose a comfortable position that will eliminate pressure on the mother’s belly. The only contraindication for having sex at this stage may be a diagnosed threat of premature termination of pregnancy. In all other cases, parents can quite calmly enjoy each other’s closeness.

The child moves little: reasons

What to do if the child doesn’t move much?

A baby in the womb has periods of activity and periods of rest. Its activity is associated with the behavior of the mother. If she is active and moves a lot all day, then the child calms down with the rhythm of the mother’s body, and the woman may not notice his movement.

The child’s activity increases in the following cases:

At rest of the mother. As soon as the mother calms down, the child begins to push with his heels, elbows and knees. Therefore, most women feel the baby’s movements better at night, during rest;

After mother's meal. A child can be active as a result of an increase in the level of glucose (sugar) in the mother’s blood after eating;

As a result of the mother's experiences and stress. In some pregnant women, the baby's activity is stimulated by an increase in the level of adrenaline in the mother's body when she is nervous.

A developing baby is most active between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. Between 28 and 32 weeks of pregnancy, fetal activity becomes constant, with distinct periods of rest and movement.

It is necessary to take into account the individuality of the child, who has his own rhythm of movement and development. Your child may be very quiet or “fussy.” Therefore, you should not worry about the apparent irregularity of the child’s movements. A sign of alarm will be a sharp decrease in fetal activity or its cessation altogether.

From 28 weeks of pregnancy, you should monitor fetal movements twice during the day: once in the morning, when activity seems too little, and once in the evening, when activity tends to increase.

To control the baby's movement, count all movements: pushing, moving, turning over. In 10 minutes you should feel 10 movements. But this is an average calculation. But if you don't count 10 movements within an hour, lie down and rest by drinking some milk or eating something. Then try counting again. If you do not count 10 movements within the next hour, this may indicate some kind of problem with the fetus, so call your doctor immediately. D. Pearson's "Count to Ten" test

On a special card, the number of fetal movements is recorded daily from 28 weeks. Counting starts at 9:00 and ends at 21:00. A small number of movements (less than 10 per day) may indicate oxygen deficiency in the fetus and is a reason to consult a doctor.

The closer the due date, the more important it is to monitor fetal movements.

Don't worry if your baby suddenly pushes you hard in the rib or stomach, or in the cervix. This happens because he has already developed enough and become stronger. You have to endure the pain. But if it is difficult to endure, try changing the position of the body or you can calm it down in the same way as a born child - rock it. This will probably cause his balance to become unbalanced and the attacks will stop for a while.

Pushing the baby in all directions may be mistaken for (twins) by the mother. An accurate diagnosis of multiple pregnancy can only be established with a special examination. Therefore, there is no need to speculate. The sensation of multiple pregnancy may occur due to movements

A period such as 28 weeks of pregnancy is no longer short, so any changes in the health of the mother or her baby become more noticeable and require a very quick response from the doctor. The expectant mother, in turn, is required to regularly visit the doctor and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The baby's height at this stage reaches approximately 35 centimeters. Its weight can be about 1 kilogram or even a little more. The head has a diameter of 7.5 centimeters. The baby is actively growing at this time, his internal organs and skeletal system are developing and improving. Despite the fact that the skin of the fetus still has a reddish tint, its body is already beginning to round out. He even has constrictions on his arms and legs.

At this age, the hair on the baby’s head is just beginning to darken. There are often cases when a baby is born prematurely at 28 weeks and has blond hair. Imagine the surprise of parents when in the near future the baby suddenly turns from blond to brunette.

This is what concerns external signs of fetal development. Now we should consider the development of internal organs. It is by the 28th week that the baby’s brain convolutions appear. Before this time, it was smooth, without any grooves. The baby's heart beats at a rate of about 150 per minute. The respiratory organs are almost completely formed and will allow the baby born at this stage to breathe independently. The only problem in this case may be the body’s not fully developed thermoregulation. To solve this problem, there are special incubators.

Another interesting thing is that it is at 28 weeks that boys’ testicles descend from the abdominal cavity into the scrotum.

Now regarding the state of health of a pregnant woman at this stage and her feelings.

Such a period can entail constant worries and anxiety for the woman. She is afraid that the pregnancy process may be interrupted and the baby will be born prematurely. Most often, the appearance of such thoughts is aggravated by the people around them, who “out of friendly intentions” begin to tell the woman about how often premature births occur at this stage. Therefore, the expectant mother is constantly nervous and listens to any sensations in her own body. She is also concerned about fetal movements at 28 weeks. In fact, you should not listen to the stories of “experienced friends”. It is advisable to completely stop any attempts to start a conversation on this topic. If before such conversations a woman’s pregnancy was proceeding normally, then after them complications may begin due to constant worries. The development of a child can also be affected by regular panic on the part of his mother.

Movements at week 28 can be easily counted, but it should be remembered that the number of movements must be counted either over a period of 12 hours of active life or over 1 hour of rest. That is, if a woman wants to count how many times the baby moved in 12 hours, she should not change her lifestyle during this time.

Many women giving birth for the first time are afraid that at 28 weeks the baby does not move much. There's really nothing wrong with that. If you try to understand the baby’s development, the reason for the rare movements will immediately become clear. The fact is that the more the fetus grows, the more cramped it becomes in the womb and the more tightly it adheres to the walls of the fetal bladder. That is, the child simply does not physically have enough space to actively move. This is especially noticeable with the active lifestyle of the expectant mother. When a woman goes about her daily activities, her uterus is also in good shape, so it is difficult for the baby to move. But while his mother is resting, the child begins to move more actively. Therefore, fetal movement at 28 weeks should be counted during rest for an hour or throughout the entire day without changes in the regime. With normal development, the baby should move at least 10 times in 12 hours and at least 4 times in an hour if the mother counts the number of his movements during her own rest.

At 28 weeks of pregnancy, fetal movements are one of the important signs of the normal development of the child. If he moves less than the specified number of times, you should definitely consult a doctor about this problem.

What else happens to the mother’s body during this period? A woman may experience back pain that is very similar to sciatica. This is normal. Pain occurs because the overgrown uterus begins to put pressure on the sciatic nerve, resulting in pain. Also, at 28 weeks, swelling of the limbs and cramps in them are common. Cramps occur due to a lack of calcium in the mother’s body. After all, a lot of calcium goes into the development of her baby’s skeletal system. These symptoms indicate that you need to consume as many foods as possible that contain calcium.

It is equally important to monitor vaginal discharge during pregnancy. In normal condition, they should be uniform and light milky in color. The smell of such secretions is slightly reminiscent of the smell of kefir. If any other discharge is observed, for example, cheesy, mucous, or even purulent, this indicates the presence of an infectious agent or fungal disease in the woman’s genitals. With such discharge, itching, burning, and a feeling of increased temperature in the vagina may be observed. Any infection should be dealt with immediately, otherwise it can lead to serious complications during pregnancy.

The worst thing is when a pregnant woman experiences bleeding. They can be of varying intensity and indicate placental abruption. Such a woman needs urgent hospitalization and treatment to avoid premature birth.

The expectant mother needs to pay more attention to her own health during the 28th week of pregnancy. Fetal movements are one of the indicators of normal or pathological development of the baby during a given period. They should be counted and monitored so as not to miss a possible deviation from the norm in the child.